Leopards blank Derry to end playoff victory drought
IRWIN – Belle Vernon’s baseball program continues its upward swing under fifth-year coach Tony Watson.
In 2024, the Leopards went 13-4 and won the program’s fifth section championship and first in 12 years although they suffered a first-round playoff loss to Blackhawk.
This year Belle Vernon put an end to another program drought.
The Leopards blanked Derry, 7-0, in a WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoff game at Norwin High School’s Alumni Field on Wednesday for their first postseason victory in 13 years.
Fifth-seeded Belle Vernon improved to 15-6 overall and advanced to next Tuesday’s quarterfinals against No. 4 Beaver, which received a first-round bye. The site and time are to be determined.
“To see the program grow, win a section title last year and then come back and win a playoff game this year, it’s been very rewarding,” said Watson, whose team has a combined 28-10 record over the past two seasons.
Parker Lind stole the show against the 12th-seeded Trojans (6-8).
The senior lefthander twirled a three-hit shutout with three walks and 13 strikeouts.
“Parker was in command the entire game,” Watson said. “Even when we made a few errors early on he pitched threw it and gave us the confidence to shake it off.”
Belle Vernon made an error in each of the first two innings and Lind allowed a single to Anthony Sacco and a hit batter in the third but kept Derry off the board each frame.
The Leopards pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third off losing pitcher Carson Long.
Chase Petrosky started the rally with a lead-off walk, went to second on Jaden Johnson’s sacrifice bunt and scored when Kole Doppelheuer reached on a two-base error. Lucas Judy walked and one out later Cole Matusik delivered a two-run single to make it 3-0.
The Trojans brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the top of the sixth inning after singles by Max Doherty and Donovan Trimble but Lind got consecutive strikeouts to squelch the threat.
Belle Vernon then all but put the game away with a four-run rally in the bottom of the inning against reliever Doherty all with two outs.
Johnson singled, Doppelheuer again reached on an error Judy walked to load the bases for Connor Bergman who smacked a two-run double. After Matusik walked to load the bases again, Seth Tomalski was hit by a pitch to force in a run and Bergman later scored on a wild pitch.
“We got a couple timely hits,” Watson said. “Bergman had a two-run hit. Cole Matusik had a two-run hit. Jaden Johnson had a multi-hit game.
“We battled the entire time. Some guys had some unselfish at bats with two strikes.”
Next up for the Leopards is Beaver which tied Blackhawk for first place in Section 1.
“I don’t know a whole lot about them but I do know they have a good pitching staff and they played some really good competition in that section with Blackhawk and Central Valley,” Watson said.
“We’ll probably come back with Parker again and just try to get by that second round.”